Apparatus for controlling steam-superheaters.



R. C. STEVENS.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STEAM SUPERHEATERS.

APPLICATION nun JULY '1, 1913.

1,106,337, Patented Aug.4., 1914.

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UNITED STATES 1 OFFICE.

ROBERT C. STEVENS, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SKINNER ENGINE, COMPANY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OLE PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STEAM-SUPERHEATERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 7, 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914. Serial .No. 777,701.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT C. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Steam-Superheaters5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the control of the degree of heat in steam coming from steam super-heaters, and consists in the construction of mechanism whereby the flow of the heated gases past a superheater is regulated by the operation of mechanism controlling the flow of steam through the super-heater tubes; also whereby the flow of heated gases past a superheater is regulated by the temperature of the steam issuingfrom the super-heater; also whereby the temperature of the steam issuing from the super-heater can be regulated by hand control all three of these controls being eifected by the operation of a single damper.

The features of my invention are hereinafter set forth and described and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of my invention applied to a steam engine and super-heater. Fig. 2, is an enlarged side elevation of the damper mechanism of my invention. Fig. 3, is an end View of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow in F ig. 2.

In these drawings, A, indicates a steam boiler setting having the usual chamber A, at the rear of the boiler; B, indicates a suwr-heater chamber, which communicates with the chamber A, by means of the filue 6. From the super-heater chamber B, a smoke flue .B, leads to the smoke stack C. lVithin the super-heater B, are the usual super-heater tubes D, through which steam from the boiler D, passes on its way to the engine. "Within the flue B, I place a damper E, (see Fig. 3) which is mounted u on a s indle E in the usual manner.

Upon this spindle E, I non-rotatably secure a lever F, upon which lever is adjust ably secured a weight F, of sufficient gravity to operate the spindle E, and damper E. he lever F, is provided with a downwardly projecting extension F to which a cord or cable (i, leading to an automatic controlling device, (not shown) may be attached. I also secure to the lever F, a cable or cord G, which may be led over suitable pulleys g, to a hook g, on the side of the boiler setting A, or through suitable supports therefor.

Upon the spindle. E, outside of the lever F, I loosely pivot a lever I'I, upon which is adjustably secured a weight 11, of greater gravity than the weight F, of the lever F.

The extension F on the lever F, is provided with means whereby the same may be engaged by a lever II, preferably an offset f, as shown in Fig. 3. From the lever II, a cord J, leads over suitable pulleys j, to a spool K, secured upon the end of the valve stem K, of the throttle valve L, of a steam engine M.

In operation when the valve stem K, is operated to open the throttle valve of the engine M, to let steam into the engine, the cord J, will be wound upon the spool K, and thereby raise the weighted lever H, to the position thereof shown by broken lines in Fig. 2, so that when the cord G, is released from the lower end of the hooks g, the damper E, may be opened by the operation of the weighted lever F, or the action of the weighted lever F, and. damper E, may be regulated by an automatic controlling device (not shown) through the cord Gr; in other words, after the weighted lever H, has been raised to the position thereof shown by broken lines in Fig. 2, the" lever F, and damper E, are free to be operated by any means that may be desired. lVhen, however, the valve L, is closed, thereby stopping the flow of steam through the super-heatcr tubes D, the weighted lever II, is lowered to the position thereof shown by full lines in Fig.2, and in this movement engages the extension F on the lever F, thereby operating the lever F, to close the damper E, in the flue B, which stops the flow of heated gas around the super-heater tubes D, in the chamber B, so that said tubes will not become injured by excessive heat when steam is not passing therethrough.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that my improved damper mechanism may, with equal facility, be operatively connected with one or more steam consuming units, and that so long as steam is being received from said super-heater by one of said units, said damper will be free to be operated as may be desired, and when steam has been shut off of all of said units, said damper will be closed by the operation of my invention.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation. of my invention, 1 do not desire to limit myself to the exact form and construction of mechanism hereinbefore shown and described, as many modifications therein may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Therefore what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letterslatent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a steam-super-heater, a damperspindle, a damper secured on said spindle to control the flow of heated gases to said super-heater, a weighted lever secured on said damper spindle adapted to automati cally operate said damper in one direction, means secured to said lever for operating said damper in the opposite direction, another weighted lever loosely pivoted on said damper spindle adapted to engage the first named lever to counteract the automatic operation of said damper thereby, a steam consuming unit and means operatively connecting, said last named lever with a steam consuming unit whereby said last named lever will be moved out of engagement with the first named lever when steam is admitted to said unit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a steam super-heater, a damper adapted to control the flow of heat conveying medium to said super-heater, mechanism to operate said damper, and mechanism adapted to permit said damper operating mechanism to be operated to open or close said damper when steam is permitted to flow through said super-heater and to cause said damper operating mechanism to close said damper when steam is prevented from flowing; through said super-heater, substantially as set forth.

In an apparatus of the character described, a steam super-heater, a damper, mechanism for operating said damper adapted to receive manual or automatic control, a steam supply valve, and mechanism. operatively connected with said supply valve, whereby said damper operating: mechanism will be permitted to open said damper when said supply valve is opened and will be prevented from opening said damper when said supply valve is closed, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an apparatus of the character described, a steam. super-heater, a damper to control the flow of heat conveying medium thereto, mechanism adapted to open and close s; id damper, and mechanism adapted to permit said damper operating: mechanism to be actuated to open or close said damper while steam is flowing through said superheatcr, and to actuate said damper operating; mechanism to close said damper when steam is not flowing; therethrough, substantially set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a steam super-heater, a smoke flue leading therefrom, a damper-spindle therein, a weighted lever secured on said spindle adapted to operate said damper in one direction, another weighted lever pivoted on said spindle and adapted to engage said first.

named lever and operate it and said damper in the opposite direction, and means secured to said last named lever and connecting with a valve in a steam pipe, connecting); with said super-heater, whereby said damper will be closed when steam ceases to flow through said super-heater, substantially set forth.

in testimony whereof l aliix my signature, in presence of two witnesses. ROBERT (J. STEVENS.

VVitnesses H. M. S'rUneEoN, E. MYERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

